Another towering political figure has passed away. Only months within the passing of Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, he who usurped power in an extraordinary political coup in November 1975, has gone.

The Fraser Government - a lightning rod for all my youthful discontent - began in controversial circumstances. Not everyone would describe the events of that time as a coup, though some elements, such as the dismissal of a government by an unelected official, the secrecy, rumour and odd coincidences do add grist to that mill.

It seems likely now that Fraser was as surprised as Whitlam by the turn of events, and, nothwithstanding the Opposition's blocking of the supply bills in the Senate which precipitated the crisis, we may be able to view events more soberly.

In fact, the rehabilitation of Fraser since leaving power has been remarkable. His humanitarian efforts and apparent lurch to the left on most issues have made him a kind of darling of progressives, this underlined by his resignation from the Liberal Party.

So goodbye Malcolm Fraser, 22nd Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. In the photo below, three Prime Ministers, with Fraser on the left.